Vertigo misery didn’t stop Leos’ Dean Valli

Two great things happened Saturday in Regina. The Lions were able to get their first win, and leadership really started to emerge.

The most obvious example was the play of Andrew Harris. He played with the kind of determination and passion that not only inspired and lifted all of his teammates, but as I’m sure nobody would argue, all of us fans, too. It truly was a statement game by Harris, showing that he cares enough about his team to do whatever it takes to help them win.

That’s what leaders do. They do whatever is necessary. But not all great action is measurable by stats, and not all examples get heralded or even heard of by the public.

Some happen quietly, away from the spotlight, and sometimes those can be the ones that affect people the most. Such was the leadership demonstrated by Dean Valli that very same game day.

It had never really been a big deal in the past, mostly just mocking material, really, but Valli has always struggled with inflight vertigo. Because Dean has always had a bit of a flair for the dramatic, his mild struggles always drew some laughs. This time it was different.

Ten minutes into the charter flight to Regina, Dean was a mess. The little bit of pre-flight food he ate was now gone and his ability to keep his torso upright had long left him. His world was spinning.

“It was the worst nausea I had ever known. It felt like my eyes were being ripped out of my head. I thought it would pass, but it just kept getting worse,” Valli said.

By the time the two-hour flight landed, Dean had used up most of the inflight sick bags, and had produced an ocean of sweat usually reserved for post-game locker rooms.

Just trying to get off the plane became an ordeal. Five failed attempts at standing up meant coach Kelly Bates had to all but carry Dean from the plane to the bus.

With medical staff by his side, Dean sat and spun in agony while they drove to the hotel. Once at the hotel Dean was helped to his room to rest, with the hopes that the symptoms would subside.

No such luck. Dean’s attempt to go to dinner ended with him falling over three times in the elevator with a head that felt like a merry-go-round set on super speed. So back to bed he went. With the exception of multiple vomit runs, bed is where he stayed.

Fast forward to game day. The hope that a full night’s rest would be all the healing magic needed was quickly dashed on Dean’s attempt at breakfast.

“I couldn’t even get in the elevator. I finally made it down with some help and great nausea. I took one bite and it came straight back up.”

The consensus now was that there was no way he was playing and Valli’s slot would be filled by rookie Cam Thorn, leaving an already vulnerable young line that much more exposed.

Another loss would have been one thing, but another ugly performance by a fragile young line may have been something from which they wouldn’t recover.

Dean had a decision to make, the kind of decision every leader has to face more often then not: Do what you probably should do for yourself, or do what you know you have to do for your team.

Dean had every reason or excuse not to play against Saskatchewan. He couldn’t even stand up without the whole world spinning. He hadn’t had any food or real sleep in 30 hours. What he needed was rest.

What Dean knew, though, was that excuses and rest wouldn’t help his team win, only production would. So he played. I can’t imagine how he did it, but he did. He not only played, but he played great.

He wasn’t miraculously better, he just did what all real pros and leaders do, he found a way. In doing so he helped inspire his teammates and raise the bar on what’s expected from champions.

The Lions won and the O-line looked much improved. That game may very well prove to be a turning point.

As for Dean, the flight home that night was just as rough. He actually couldn’t even begin to truly hold food down until the following day. After another day or so of rest his body returned to normal.

It’s not something you want to see players have to go through, but sometimes it’s those acts of selflessness and quiet toughness that inspire others around you to give more as well.

The Lions looked improved Saturday. Harris put on a performance for the ages.

What Valli did, though, goes beyond stats and wins. He did what champions do. He performed well, even though he had every reason and excuse not to perform. He did it because that’s what had to be done. That’s a lesson in leadership worth sharing.

Angus Reid was a Lions centre for 13 seasons and writes before every game in The Province.

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